Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial comparing effects of supplementation of two micronutrient sprinkles on fatty acid status in Cambodian infants.

Background: Infants in developing countries require early dietary interventions to prevent nutritional deficiencies, above all protein, energy, iron and zinc. To what extent these interventions may affect the fatty acid (FA) status is still unknown.

Objectives: To examine and compare the effects of 2 micronutrient "sprinkles" supplementations (iron 12.

Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial comparing effects of supplementation with two different combinations of micronutrients delivered as sprinkles on growth, anemia, and iron deficiency in cambodian infants.

Objectives: To assess and compare efficacy of two micronutrient sprinkle supplementation on growth, anemia, and iron deficiency in Cambodian infants.

Methods: A total of 204 infants aged 6 months and living in Kompong Chhnang Province, Cambodia were randomly assigned to receive daily supplements of either iron (12.5 mg) plus folic acid (150 mug) plus zinc (5 mg) (MMN, n = 68), or iron (12.

Non-specific febrile illness by Coxsackievirus A16 in a 6-day-old newborn.

A case of non-specific febrile illness by Coxsackievirus A 16 (CA 16) in a 6-day-old newborn whose mother had developed hand, foot and mouth disease manifestations 2 days after delivery is reported. Notwithstanding the concurrence of negative circumstances like the presence of the enterovirus genome in the cerebrospinal fluid, absence of type specific neutralizing antibody and a few days of life, the newborn recovered 3 days after the onset of fever. This case, also characterized by the absence of mucosal and cutaneous erythematous manifestations typical of CA16 infection, draws attention to the possibility that non-specific febrile illness in newborns usually suspected of bacterial origin may have an enteroviral cause.

Diagnosis of central precocious puberty: endocrine assessment.

The new methods which are currently available have provided substantial help in performing the differential diagnosis of CPP, especially in detecting very early modifications of gonadotropin secretion. Nocturnal sampling is not a practical tool and generates discomfort for patients, and daytime samples do not yet have sufficient sensitivity; thus, determination of LH levels after GnRH stimulation is the most important test. We emphasize that the use of the GnRH agonist test improves the discrimination of the endocrine investigation, making it easier to differentiate CPP from other conditions, such as thelarche.

Genetics and molecular biology of the GHRH-GH-IGF-I axis.

In this paper, the genetics and molecular biology of the GHRH-GH-IGF-I (Growth Hormone Releasing hormone-Growth Hormone-Insulin like Growth Factor I) axis involved in the pathogenesis of short stature are reviewed. Short stature associated with GH deficiency is estimated to occur in about 1/4000-10,000 live births; 3-30% of cases affect first-degree relatives, suggesting a genetic aetiology. Identification of such molecular defects is very recent and dependent on new findings on the physiology of GHRH-GH-IGF-I axis: for example the pituitary-specific transcription factors and their mutations have only been described in the last few years.